Gear up to donate everything from clothes to stationery, as ChennaiGives returns.

After an overwhelming response to their first edition last year, ChennaiGives, a city-wide initiative to provide for the needy, is back this Sunday. Organised by Round Table Area 2, the campaign seeks to be a social leveller of sorts, inviting the city to donate everything from clothes, stationery, bed linen and toys to games, toiletries and kitchen supplies, provided they are ‘nearly new’. What started in 2015 as an idea executed by 20 people has grown this year into a team of close to 500 people, with 14 drop-off locations across the city (up from last year’s four). “The floods were a wake up call, to take notice of the needs of our own people. We’ve broadened our range this year and have no doubts that people across the society will come together this time as well,” says TR Narayanaswamy, chairman of Madras Round Table and one of the organisers. This time, actors like Arvind Swamy (the campaign ambassador), Priyanka Chopra, Abhishek Bachchan and Simbu, along with ace designer Tarun Tahiliani, and corporates like Apollo, Aircel and Sathyam Cinemas have pledged their support to the campaign. “The charities involved include schools, women’s organisations, orphanages, old-age homes and more. It’s not for anyone in particular. It’s from Chennai, to Chennai,” adds Narayanaswamy.
To contribute, and for updates, follow ChennaiGives on Facebook or tune into Fever FM 91.9